Chapter Eight: Holy Flower
Azval
Earlier at the Lerene Palace...
"Greetings, Your Highness."
As soon as Lady Emilia arrived, she went in my direction and offered me a glass of red wine that I couldn't refuse as there were lots of nobles eyeing us.
If I would make any uncomfortable atmosphere between us, it would raise concerns and hearsay. Additionally mother likes Lady Emilia for her son and unfortunately, that son was me.
If I would glance at her, she may be enjoying her time talking to high-ranking nobles but I can still sense that she was watching my moves.
I should be perfect. Not only for her eyes but for everyone's.
"You look quite stunning tonight, My Lady," I said as I gave her a half-hearted smile, "the feathers on your hat... it looks like any moment from now, you'll gonna fly somewhere. Perhaps, besides my brother?"
"HAHA! Your comical wit is unmatched for this land, Prince Larnaaz. You're quite the jester, aren't you?" she said with a glint of annoyance in her voice as she shut her open fan.
As soon as my conversation with Lady Emilia ended, that was the queue for the other nobles to talk to one of us.
There's a banquet held again tonight in honor of the 'Feast of the Saintess' that is celebrated across the whole Empire. This is where all the nobles would gather and a representative from the West would visit each banquet and would discuss some agenda with the King and Queen.
As I was conversing about the military stand of our country with Duke Reynold Zenonis, Lady Emilia's father whose expertise lies in strategic war, I saw Ferran near the open porch gesturing me something through his fingers. I excused myself from the conversation, sipped the last drop of my wine, and went straight ahead to him.
"Sir, it's time that the bell rang soon," he said to me while still standing firm and looking ahead to the tower away from us.
"I already prepared your horse, too."
"Make sure no one follows me," I said as I walked away from him but immediately stopped when I noticed that he was still following me.
"But sir, we have a problem."
"What?"
"The Crown Prince's fiance would be joining us tonight and it would be a problem if you won't be seen anywhere as the Crown Prince's brother," he worriedly said as he bowed his head.
Tch, such a hassle.
"Tell them that I got an urgent matter to attend to regarding the matters in the South," I said and started walking again, avoiding the sight of my mother who was luckily, surrounded by power-hunger nobles.
"But Sir, this is Princess Sina we are talking about. What if they would deem your absence as disrespect?"
"What if I slit their throats?"
It made Ferran stop walking so I took it as an opportunity to face him.
"Your Highness, that's..."
"Look, I should go to the market."
I want to spend the festival with Miss Estelle. That strange girl who's been in my mind since the Holy Saintess knows when. I would rather be there than here in this banquet around these nobles that would suck me dry just to gain my favor.
Additionally, while talking to Duke Zenonis earlier, according to the rumors things are already starting to go down in the South because of the dragon and it impacts their trade on us. That's why they are now planning to take the land that is originally from the East. With that, it's not impossible that they would wage war after a possible hunt.
That land is vast and we would not let it be taken that easily. Though it is only a plan, it's already a threat. Knowing that King Rolvo of Kroubet is allying with my brother. If that rumor is true, then bloodshed is inevitable.
I will be in the front line, especially on the hunt, so might as well enjoy my training and leisure days.
"Yes, Your Highness. Be sure to be back at dawn. I'll take care of the matters here," Ferran said and once again bowed his head as a sign of courtesy. I pat his back and whispered something,
"I'll bring you back a delicacy," I said pertaining to his favorite candy made from mango which is traded from the South and is only sold on the market.
"I'll do my best!"
With that, I already sneaked my way out.
As usual, Ferran would set up my horse in the garden wherein the place is not guarded by the royal guards and is dark.
While untying the horse from the tree, I heard some rustling of the leaves behind me it made me stop doing what I was doing. As the footsteps were getting nearer, I drew my sword to the person behind me.
"What are you doing here?" I said in a low but authoritative voice.
"You startled me, Prince. It is I!"
When I looked carefully at the face of the person in front of me, I immediately lowered my sword but the cold remarks on my face remained.
What is she doing here?
"This is not a place where My Lady should be. Go back," I said while putting back my sword and untie the horse.
"I know but I saw you hurriedly walking out of the banquet and I was wondering where you're going and hmm, looks like someone is escaping somewhere."
"This matter does not relate to you," I said and climbed my horse. "So, if you would step back? My horse might kick you."
"Such disrespect. I am gonna tell Lady Irina!" she said pertaining to my mother and flipped her head around. Lady Emilia also hurriedly carried the bottom part of her heavily feathered gown and walked furiously.
"Lady, you shouldn't!" I said as I also hurriedly got down my horse and tied it loosely on the tree. This lady is getting on my nerves...
"Oh yeah? I definitely will—"
She wasn't able to continue what she was about to say when she suddenly fainted in front of me but before her body reached the ground, Caesar caught her.
"Your Highness," said my Butler and gave me a bow. "Sir Ferran sent me to get Lady Emilia as he is now dealing with the matter of your absence. You may now go to where you are supposed to."
I let out a deep sigh of relief and thanked him.
Caesar also told me to not worry about a thing because he would make sure that Lady Emilia would take a drug that would make her forget about what she saw at this time.
With the nuisance around me gone, I already went back to untying my horse again and rode it on my way to Aysel Palace to get my clothes changed and let my head maid bring back this horse to the stable. As if it was not missing in the first place.
But getting out was not as easy I thought since the Royal Knights of the West are now scattered everywhere, even the place wherein even our royal guards won't be found.
Ah, that's right.
I think their Princess is already here at the palace. Her life is worth ten times more than ours as she is the only descendant of the Holy Saintess so it is understandable that even a gap around the Lerene that is not guarded should not exist.
"Now, how can I get through this?" I whispered to myself while hiding behind a big tree.
"I can tell them to let you pass."
I didn't sense her at all! It was as if she had no mana.
Before I could even stop the lady who just appeared out of nowhere, she already started walking in the guards' direction which made me kind of worry.
She's just wearing a simple dress and robe with a hood that covers her face. She doesn't even look like a high-ranking noble.
What can she do?!
I galloped my horse in her direction because right now I can already see her talking to the men. I am already here, I just might as well make any reason and let them know that I am the Second Prince. I'll just let Ferran fix it if they would have any doubts. He's good at fixing these matters after all.
When I reached them, the two royal guards looked at me and bowed as if they already recognized who I was.
"See? You can now pass," said the lady with such comforting voice and walked away from me. I can't even recognize her since she turned her back immediately.
Speaking of which, her back seems familiar. Even her stance.
"Wait, how... Who are you?"
"My, my! They didn't tell me the Second Prince is quite the fun one."
I saw her back heaving up and down as if she was chuckling.
"It's alright since we haven't officially met yet and I was hoping to converse with you later at the banquet but it seems like you're in a hurry."
"Princess Sina! Where have you been? We should get you changed already!"
A young girl dressed in a maid's uniform appeared out of nowhere and immediately ran in the lady's direction.
"Let's formally introduce ourselves next time. I'm the Crown Prince's fiance after all."
She stopped walking away from me carefully put down her hood and bowed her head. A long flowy golden hair appeared in front of my eyes.
They were not joking when they named her the Holy Flower. Just by her hair, she already radiates the energy. But that was not the thing that made my eyes fixate on her until she walked away from me with her servant.
The princess... She looked exactly like Miss Estelle!
I immediately made my way to the Aysel Palace and changed my clothes.
A thought came into my mind. It can't be!
The hair and eye colors are different so Miss Estelle couldn't be my brother's fiancee. Also, the way that she talked to me earlier, it's as if it was the first time that we've met each other.
I can't shake the thought of it in my mind while I'm sneaking my way out to reach the Inn. The only way to find out if Miss Estelle and the Crown Princess that is engaged to my brother is one person is by seeing with my own eyes that Miss Estelle is in the inn, working.
I should hurry!
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